Tirunesh Dibaba to defend Great Manchester Run title

The three-time Olympic gold medallist will go for her fourth victory on the roads of Manchester.

Tirunesh Dibaba will be among those racing the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run on May 28 as the three-time Olympic gold medallist defends her title.

Dibaba eased to victory in Manchester a year ago in her first race back after the birth of her first child and went on to represent Ethiopia at the Rio Olympics, where she won bronze in the 10,000m to secure her sixth Olympic medal.

The 31-year-old also won last year’s Great South Run on her 10-mile debut and finished second in last month’s London Marathon. Later this month she’ll be going for her fourth victory on the roads of Manchester after winning at Europe’s biggest 10km in 2013 and 2014, with a course record of 30:49 set when claiming her first victory.

Dibaba will be up against British pair Katrina Wootton and Gemma Steel, who were both involved in last month’s Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k where they finished fourth and fifth respectively.

France’s Sophie Duarte and Christelle Daunay will also take on the fast and flat race which starts on Portland Street and ends on Deansgate alongside the iconic Beetham Tower.

Source: AW